The beaches of Mexico's popular Gulf Coast resorts are experiencing an environmental disaster: hundreds of tons of sargassum—brown seaweed—are being washed ashore in huge masses that float on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Enormous amounts of money are spent on cleaning the coast and removing seaweed, and tourists are dissatisfied with the appearance of the beaches.
As Gotomexico.mx reports, authorities have found a solution to the problem and have already begun implementing it. Offshore from the hotel area of the resort city of Cancún, installation of a four-kilometer algae barrier has begun. This special net, held in place by weights on the seabed and floats on the surface, is deployed at a 45-degree angle to the shoreline. This barrier prevents algae from reaching the beaches and redirects them into the prevailing currents.
The problem of massive sargassum infestations emerged recently, in 2014. Due to changing environmental conditions, the brown algae is rapidly multiplying, opening up from the seabed and drifting in large clumps across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, interfering with ship passage and tourist enjoyment.
Mexico plans to install algae barriers at other resorts as well. The total length of these barriers in the state of Quintana Roo will be 27 kilometers. The peak of algae infestation on the state's beaches is expected in September.
Source: travel.ru